Mark F. Cancian

Senior Adviser, Defense and Security Department
Mark F. Cancian

Mark Cancian (Colonel, USMCR, ret.) is a senior adviser with the CSIS Defense and Security Department. He joined CSIS in April 2015 from the Office of Management and Budget, where he spent more than seven years as chief of the Force Structure and Investment Division, working on issues such as Department of Defense budget strategy, war funding, and procurement programs, as well as nuclear weapons development and nonproliferation activities in the Department of Energy. Previously, he worked on force structure and acquisition issues in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and ran research and executive programs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In the military, Colonel Cancian spent over three decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, active and reserve, serving as an infantry, artillery, and civil affairs officer and on overseas tours in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Iraq (twice). Since 2000, he has been an adjunct faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he teaches a course on the connection between policy and analysis. A prolific author, he has published over 40 articles on military operations, acquisition, budgets, and strategy and received numerous writing awards. He graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) from Harvard College and with highest honors (Baker scholar) from Harvard Business School.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

Media Queries

Featured

Photo: CSIS

Photo: CSIS

Wargaming Nuclear Deterrence and Its Failures in a U.S.–China Conflict over Taiwan

A new report informed by 15 wargame simulations examines nuclear dynamics in a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, assessing what creates the greatest pressure for nuclear weapons use in such a conflict, what happens if nuclear weapons are used, and potential off-ramps.

Listen to audio brief

Report by Mark F. Cancian, Matthew F. Cancian, and Eric Heginbotham — December 13, 2024

Related

In the News 8 of 818 results

Show More

All Mark F. Cancian Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 238 results

U.S. Carrier to the Caribbean: A Step Closer to War

Moving a carrier strike group is highly significant. U.S. forces are increasingly well positioned to conduct an air campaign against either the cartels or Venezuela—but don't yet have the combat power for a ground invasion.

Commentary by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — October 24, 2025

Audio Briefs

U.S. Carrier to the Caribbean: A Step Closer to War

An audio version of “⁠U.S. Carrier to the Caribbean: A Step Closer to War,⁠” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — October 24, 2025

Audio Briefs

Will the Tomahawks Save Ukraine?

About a thousand Tomahawk missiles in the U.S. stockpile today are available for transfer to Ukraine. They could have a major impact on the war, but the Pacific theater needs and Russian opposition could disrupt any deal.

Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — October 17, 2025

Audio Briefs

Will the Tomahawks Save Ukraine?

An audio version of "⁠Will the Tomahawks Save Ukraine?⁠," a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — October 17, 2025

Audio Briefs
Audio Briefs

Caribbean Update: Fifth Suspected Drug Runner Destroyed

An audio version of “⁠Caribbean Update: Fifth Suspected Drug Runner Destroyed⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Mark F. Cancian. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Mark F. Cancian — October 16, 2025

Audio Briefs

Caribbean Update: Fifth Suspected Drug Runner Destroyed

U.S. attacks on suspected drug boats have become routine. They will likely continue until the administration decides to return the counterdrug mission to law enforcement agencies or a tragic incident heightens domestic and regional opposition to U.S. operations.

Commentary by Mark F. Cancian — October 16, 2025

Trump’s War on Drug Cartels: Interdiction in the Caribbean or Invasion of Venezuela?

Trump’s notification to Congress determining an “armed conflict” with drug cartels marks the latest escalation in ongoing U.S. operations in the Caribbean against Venezuelan drug boats. While raising concerns of potential military intervention in Venezuela, assets currently deployed fall short of what an invasion or raid would require. 

Analysis by Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park — October 3, 2025